5 Communities in Gallatin, Tennessee

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,500 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 5 Assisted Living Communities in Gallatin and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Gallatin, TN

• Assisted Living: $4,500
• Nursing Home Care: $6,692
• In-home Care: $3,621
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,408

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care compares senior care costs throughout the country. The study shows that assisted living costs in Gallatin ($4,500) are higher than the state ($3,920) and national ($4,000) averages. Prices are notably lower in nearby Clarksville ($3,495) as well as in Knoxville ($4,033), Memphis ($3,585) and Chattanooga ($3,018). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Gallatin, so data for the closest city, Nashville, was used. 

The wide price range for senior care services is largely due to the different types of care provided with each service. Nursing home care is the most expensive option because it involves 24-hour care in a specialized, licensed residential facility. Services such as skilled nursing and medication management are also included in the cost.  In Gallatin, 44 hours of in-home senior care weekly from a homemaker or home health aide costs about $700 and $900 less than assisted living, respectively. Unlike assisted living in a residential facility, in-home services don’t include room and board. 

 

Medicaid is the national health insurance program designed to provide low-income Americans with access to basic health care. Medicaid funding comes from both the state and federal governments, and in Tennessee, one in five residents is covered under the Medicaid program. 

Tennessee Medicaid is known as TennCare. To qualify for long-term Medicaid services, seniors must have a monthly income no greater than $2,313, which is 300% of the federal benefit rate. Seniors may also own no more than $2,000 in countable assets such as cash, stocks, bonds and all real estate except for their principal residence. 

TennCare CHOICES in Long-Term Services and Supports

The CHOICES program is a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver that provides services and supports for seniors who need the level of care normally available in a nursing home or are at risk of nursing home admission if they don’t receive assistance.

Under this program, seniors can also opt to reside in an assisted living setting. Once approved for coverage, an individual must be assessed to determine the specific assistance they need. In an assisted living facility, services and supports a senior may be eligible for include: 

• Personal care to help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating and using the toilet
• Homemaker services
• A wearable emergency call button
• Assistive technologies such as a raised toilet seat, safety bars and other devices to make navigating the environment easier and safer
• Medication management

The cost of the services provided in an assisted living facility is covered under the CHOICES waiver, but the resident is responsible for paying room and board costs.

To learn more about TennCare and CHOICES or apply for coverage, contact the Area Agency on Aging and Disability at (866) 836-6678. 

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Seniors who are selling a home before moving into assisted living or need cash to pay move-in fees while waiting for benefits to begin may qualify for an assisted living bridge loan from Elderlife Financial. 

These bridge loans are exclusively available to seniors transitioning to assisted living and offer terms of up to 12 months. The loan is structured as a line of credit, and interest-only payments are due each month on the amount that’s been drawn. Seniors can apply over the phone; there are no application fees, and up to six people can apply in order to share costs. 

For more information, contact Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans and survivors who receive a regular VA pension and are either housebound or require daily assistance due to a disability, mental impairment or prolonged illness may qualify for a higher monthly pension payment through the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance. These two pension top-up benefits can’t be combined with a VA disability pension; however, the disability that qualifies a veteran doesn’t have to be service related. 

For the housebound allowance, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100% and be largely limited to their home as a result of their disability. 

For the aid and attendance benefit, applicants must be living in a nursing home, bedridden, legally blind or need help from a caregiver to dress, bathe, eat or perform other activities of daily living. 

To learn more about these two VA benefits, contact the Sumner County Veteran’s Service Office at (615) 451-6014. 

The Gallatin Senior Citizens’ Center holds bingo games, sing-alongs, low-impact exercise classes, line dances and indoor garage sales for area seniors. The center also provides daily low-cost lunches and weekly blood pressure checks.

The city’s Parks and Recreation department also offers a number of yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi classes for seniors and hosts a monthly Silver Sneakers/Silver Fit luncheon.

Gallatin Senior Citizens’ Center
200 E Franklin St, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 451-1531

Gallatin Parks and Recreation
210 Albert Gallatin Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 451-5911

Veterans and their surviving spouses can contact the Veterans Service Office for assistance with VA benefit applications, appeals and information about local VA services. The newly constructed Gallatin VA Outpatient Clinic provides  primary care and mental health services along with referrals for hospital and specialist care through the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. 

Gallatin VA Clinic
419 Steam Plant Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 230-4600

Sumner County Veterans Service Office
355 North Belvedere Dr Rm 114, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 451-6014

Seniors who need affordable, wheelchair-accessible door-to-door transportation to appointments and errands within Sumner County can book a ride with Mid-Cumberland Public Transit. The Council on Aging of Middle Tennessee helps seniors access information on area resources and provides referrals to local programs and services.  Mid-Cumberland Public Transit
1101 Kermit Dr Ste 300, Nashville, TN 37217
(615) 331-6033 Council on Aging of Middle TN
95 White Bridge Rd Ste 250, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 353-4235

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.